I have recently purchased a 2800 sq foot home in New Orleans. The house was built circa 1910. It has absolutely no insulation in the attic, crawlspace or walls. There also is not any attic ventilation.

The home is a pier and beam foundation which is raised about 3 feet. The crawlspace is not enclosed. There is no subfloor, my hardwoods rest directly on the floor joist.

I have had a few contractors come out and bid on the insulation job. I have gotten a variety of opinions on it, so I am very confused on what to do. One has said I need to tear out the siding and put in insulation (batts or preferrably spray in closed cell foam), and put up a sheating and moisture barrier. That sounds great but the cost is astronomical. Another contractor said to blow in fiberglass insulation through numerous holes in the wall. Another person said option 1 was cost prohibitive, and option 2 was useless, and that I should just worry about insulating the attic and floor. Finally I read on the internet that insulating the floor would cause moisture build up.